Compound rotary steam-engine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. M. GREEN.

COMPOUND ROTARY, STEAM ENGINE.

Patented. Oct. 5, 1897.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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COMPOUND ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

' No. 591,165. Patented Oct. 5,1897,

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No. 591,165. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

A, M. GREEN. COMPOUND ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 591,165. Patented Oct. 5,1897..

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ARTHUR M. GREEN, OF' FORT GIBSON, MISSISSIPPI.

COMPOUND ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lPatent N 0. 591,165, dated October 5, 1897. Application filed Apri1l9,189'7. seminal. 632,782. (No mode.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Gibson, in the county of Claiborne and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to' make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in compound rotary steam-engines, and the object is to provide a simple and effective engine of this class; and to this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

compound rotary steam-engine.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. horizontal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the low-pressure cylinder. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of the high-pressure cylinders. Fig. 6 is a'detail section of the automatic cut-off. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same.

1 represents the base-plate, and 2 2 the pillow-block bearings, in which is j ournaled the horizontal piston-shaft 3.

4 represents the stationary cylindrical casing, provided with the integral horizontal base-flange 5, removably secured to the baseplate 1. This casing 4 is formed with a central low-pressure cylinder or chamber 6 and two lateral parallel concentric high-pressure cylinders or chambers 7 8, which are provided, respectively, with removable covers or cylinder-heads 9 10, having the usual stuffin g-boxes and glands, through which the shaft 3 passes.

12 represents the live-steam-inlet pipe, having integral branch pipes 13 14 communicating with the high-pressure cylinders 7 and 8, respectively, and 15 represents the annular exhaust-port, which extends entirely around the low-pressure cylinder, forming a steamjacket therefor and having an outlet-orifice 16, opening into the atmosphere or connected to a condenser through the center of the baseplate 1.

Fig; 3 is a piston-disks, provided with the integral hubs 18 18, fixed to the shaft 3 by the usual keys 19 19, and the outer faces of the disks are formed with an annular recess 20, which receives a continuous packing-ring 21 to form a steam-tight joint between said disks and the contiguous faces of the parallel annular flanges 22 22 onthe sides of the low-pressure cylinder. A similar annular groove 23 is formed in the opposite faces of the hubs 18 18 to receive the packing-rings 19 19, which bear against the inner faces of the covers 9 10.

24 25 represent the live-steam ports, the lower ends of which are provided with the oscillating cylindrical valves 26 27, having valve-stems 28 29 projecting through the stuffing-boxes 30 30, their outer ends being journaled in a bracket 31, secured to the cover.

32 represents a rock-lever fixed on the outer end of each valve stem, and to its lower end is connected an eccentric-rod 33, secured to an eccentric-strap 34, encompassing theeccentric 35, fixed on the shaft 3.

36 36 represent inlet-passages connecting the steam-ports 24 25 with the'interior of the high-pressure cylinders 7 and 8, and 37 37 represent semicircular valves pivoted in re cesses 38 38, formed in the opposite walls of said cylinders. 38 represents leaf-springs to assist the valves in opening.

39 39 represent the high-pressure pistons proper, being formed integral with the disk 17 and the hubs 18, and they are each provided with radial wings 4O 40, against one face of which the live steam acts to rotate said pistons.

41 41 represent the exhaust-passages in said cylinder, which admit the exhaust-steam between the back of the valves 37 37 and the contiguous faces of the piston into the central chamber or receiver 42, and from this chamber the steam passes through the oscillating valves 43 43 and steam-ports 44 in the radial wings 45 of the low-pressure piston 46 into the low-pressure cylinder 6, emanait has exerted its force on the wings 45 escapes through the radial passage 47 into the annular exhaust-port 15, and thence into the at mosphere or a condenser through the-outletorifices 16.

48 48 represent semicircular valves pivoted IOO Fig. 4 I have shown these valves 48 provided.

with leaf-springs 48 to start them instantly when opening in order to give them the full effect of the steam to complete the opening movement.

The oscillating valves 43 43 in the recesses formed in the inside of the wings 45 of the low-pressure piston are provided with projecting arms 50, to the outer ends of which are connected the outer ends of the rods 51,

the inner ends of which are pivoted to the longitudinal arms 52 of the bell-crank levers 53, fulcrumed on the radial lugs 54, formed integral with the collar 55, fixed on the'shaft 3. The radial arms 56 of these bell-crank levers 53 are connected to the longitudinal rods 57, their outer ends passing through guide-lugs 58, fixed on the inner face of they piston 39 and having their ends terminating in plungers 59 in the orifices 60 in the hubs 18 of the high-pressure pistons.

61 represents screw-threaded studs adjustably secured by lock-nuts 62 62 in the covers 9 and 10, and their inner ends project into the path of the plungers 59 to press them inwardly, and through the medium of the bellcrank levers and their connecting-rods impart the proper oscillating movement to the valves 43 to admit the steam from the highpressure cylinders to the receiver and from thence to the low-pressure cylinder.

A very important feature of my improved rotary engine is the fact that both the live steam in the high-pressure cylinders and the exhaust-steam therefrom, which is used in the low-pressure cylinder, is used expansively as the inlet-valves to the different cylinders are set to cut off the steam before the wings on their respective pistons have reached the point at which they begin to exhaust.

Another very important feature of my construction is the central chamber or receiver 42, which is located in the center of the engine, and, surrounded as it is by heated walls and live steam, a great saving in condensation and radiation is obtained. A further when the engine is in motion, thus permitting an effective speed to be attained with economy of power and safety of the parts. The degree of expansion is independently controlled in the high and low pressure cylinders by means of the studs 61 and the eccentrics 35, respectively.

the variable cutoif, 63 represents a collar fixed on the shaft 3 and provided with oppositely-disposed radial toes 64 64.

65 65 represent pawls pivoted on the outer ends of the levers 66 66, the inner ends of which are fulcrumed on the brackets 67 67, secured to the outside of the cylinder-cover.

68 68 represent connecting-rods, their inner ends pivoted to the levers 66 66 and their outer ends to the rock-levers 32, on the projecting ends of the valve-stems 28 and 29.

69 69 represent horizontal rock-levers also fixed on the valve-stems 28 and 29, and to their outer ends are pivoted the dash-rods 70 7 0, provided with the usual pistons working in the dash-ports 71 71.

72 represents the governor-wheel fixed on the shaft 3, and 73 73 represent governor-arms fulcrumed on studs 74 74 on the radial arms 75 75 of said governor-wheel.

76 76 represent pivoted rods connecting the arms 73 73 with oppositely-disposed radial lugs 77 77 on a sleeve 78, loosely encompassing the shaft 3, and this sleeveis also provided with knock-off cams 79 79, which rotate in the path of the lateral arms 80 80 on one-side of the free ends of the pawls 65 65.

81 81 represent spiral retracting-springs, which connect the governor-arms 73 73 with the radial arms 75 75 of the governor to draw said arms in toward the center when the engine is running at a low rate of speed and permit the knock-off cams to release the pawls at or near the end of the stroke, while as the speed increases the governorarms, being thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, draw the knock-off cams closer up to the toes 64 64, and consequently release the pawls 65 65 and cut off the steam nearer the beginning of the stroke.

It will of course be understood that'I do not restrict myself to the governor shown, as any suitable form of governor will answer as well.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rotary compound steam-engine, comprising two or more cylinders of unequal diameter, an exhaustport extending entirely around the larger cylinder and forming a steam jacket therefor, an integral duplex rotary piston common to both cylinders, and means substantially as described for independently admitting steam to each cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A rotary compound steam-engine, comprising the low-pressure cylinder provided with a central exhaust-chamber, the lateral Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, which illustrate I parallel high-pressure cylinders formed integral therewith, in combination with the integral low and high pressure pistons, and means substantially as described for automatically controlling the admission of steam independently to each piston, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A rotary compound steam-engine, comprising the low-pressure cylinder, the lateral high pressure cylinders arranged parallel with and on each side of said lowpressure cylinder, and a central chamber or receiver 42 arranged intermediate said high-pressure cylinders and within said low-pressure cylinder, substantially as shown and described.

4. A rotary compound steam-engine, com- ARTHUR S. HALL, r a O. BRISOOE TILLMAN. 

